No Barriers to Fun!

We met our friend Giddeon at the AbleGamers Accessibility Arcade in Atlantic City, New Jersey. When he first sat down with the AbleGamers crew, Giddeon didn't want to play any games. He told us that with his disability gaming was difficult. Giddeon has a rare disease that caused the growth of his arms .. Read More
A Window to the World

Shepherd University invited the AbleGamers Foundation to come on campus and do one of our Accessibility Arcades for the students and local disabled community. The event was a roaring success with hundreds of children and adults coming out to see the technology and in some cases experience gaming the first time. Read More

About the AbleGamers Foundation

Since 2004, the AbleGamers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, has served more than 56 million members of the disabled community by advocating greater access in video games. Today, AbleGamers is a leader in the development of equipment, programs and services to those living with disabilities, hardships, and quality-of-life issues that are a result of chronic illness or trauma. It is our goal to ensure that all people, regardless of their disability, can use gaming as a tool to have enriched social experiences with friends, family, and the world at large.

AbleGamers Web Game of the Week: Kaleid

Written by Mark C. Barlet

Published on 09 January 2011

Kaleid_banner

I thought maybe the first game for AbleGamers Web Game of the Week for the New Year should be something that does not reminds us that it is currently cold as crap outside, but instead reminds us of the warmer days that will be with us sooner than you think. Enter Kaleid. The concept of this game could not be simpler. The gamer is presented with a kaleidoscope like pattern on the left, a blank kaleidoscope on the right, and a pallet of colorful shape with the intent of duplicating the pattern on the left, using the shapes, and placing them in the highlighted wedge.

From an accessibility standpoint this game is not bad with the exception of colorblind gamers. For you this game will be playable, but a little more challenging than your non-colorblind friends. Fortunately the pallet of colorful shapes is limited puzzle to puzzle. This will help guide you to what shapes you're going to need to complete the level, without the frustration of not knowing what color they are.

Mobility impaired gamers will find a game that is fully mouseable, and no time limit for completing the level. There is some level of precision that is needed with this game fortunately the shapes kind of snap to grid, leaving your choices of placement less than infinite, making the game challenging but not frustrating.

kaleid_splash Deaf gamers should have no issue playing this game whatsoever. While the game does present itself with very peaceful and springlike music, and there are some sound effects when placing an object in the playfield, the sound has nothing to do with the "right or wrong" placement of the piece, and therefore the absence of sound will not affect your enjoyment of this game.

There is a word of warning to gamers who have issues with spatial recognition. In order to complete some of these puzzles you will have to recognize that some pieces that do not match the shape that you are attempting to produce will in fact yield what you are looking for because of the kaleidoscope effect of the game. Some cognitively disabled gamers may find this a little challenging, if not flat-out frustrating.

Why are you still reading this, you should go and give it a shot, Go play Kaleid.